Two of the hottest names in British cycling have joined the glittering line-up of guests gearing up for Action Medical Research’s Champions of CycleSport Dinner.
Olympic gold medalist Dani King MBE will be heading to the ultimate cycling night out on Thursday, 26 November 2015, at Battersea Evolution in London, where guests can mingle with some of the world’s greatest cyclists while supporting sick and vulnerable babies and children.
Also set to tread the red carpet is Scottish former professional road racing cyclist David Millar, who attended the first Champions dinner in 2011.
The high-profile pair will be joined by Chris Boardman MBE, an ambassador for the children’s charity; Sir Dave Brailsford CBE; former Irish professional road racing cyclist Stephen Roche; Rochelle Gilmore; Rob Hales and Jody Cundy MBE – as well as several yet-to-be-named VIP guests.
The 2015 Champions of CycleSport Dinner, which is supported by Garmin and BDO LLP, reflects Action Medical Research’s passion for all things cycling. The charity, which organises the UK-wide RIDE100 series as well as bespoke rides, aims to save and change children’s lives through medical research.
The star-studded evening will include a three-course dinner, live music, action demonstrations and an auction with exclusive prizes with host Ned Boulting, as well as a number of champions’ interviews, conducted by Sky TV’s Dermot Murnaghan and sponsored by Thomas Miller Investment.
Maserati, the luxury Italian car brand, has signed to become the automotive partner for the evening. Maserati, who introduced a new programme earlier this year designed to celebrate the marque’s affinity with cycling, will provide a chauffeur service for the champions in attendance and will showcase its Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicle models.
Dani King MBE is a three-time world champion in the women’s team pursuit, competing for the winning Great Britain team at the World Championships in 2011 alongside Laura Trott and Wendy Houvenaghel, in 2012 alongside Trott and Joanna Rowsell. and in 2013 with Trott and Elinor Barker.
She won the team pursuit at the Track Cycling World Cup in London in preparation for the Olympics in February 2012 and won a gold medal for the team pursuit alongside Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell at the 2012 London Olympics. The team also set a new world record time of 3:14:051 in this event. Having swapped track cycling for road cycling, Dani now rides for Wiggle Honda.
David Millar is most closely associated with Cofidis, the team he rode for from 1997-2004, and Garmin-Sharp (2008-2014). He has won four stages of the Tour de France, five of the Vuelta a España and one stage of the Giro d’Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007, and is the only British rider to have worn all Tour de France jerseys.
With the help of its supporters, Action Medical Research has played a significant role in many medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952, from the development of the first UK polio vaccines to the use of ultrasound in pregnancy. It is currently funding research into meningitis, Down Syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.
Chris Boardman MBE is encouraging all cycling fans to join him for the Champions of CycleSport Dinner to support the children’s charity. “I’m so proud to be an ambassador for Action and to support this extremely worthwhile cause,” he said. “I know first-hand why the research Action Medical Research funds is so essential after my son George was born six weeks prematurely.
“At the Champions of CycleSport Dinner, not only are you guaranteed a fantastic night out, you’re also supporting Action’s efforts to help many thousands of families dealing with the trauma of a baby born too early, striving to support a child affected by disability, or facing the challenge of caring for a child with a rare disease for which there is no cure.”
At last year’s Champions of CycleSport Dinner, 600 guests raised an incredible £200,000 with notable auction prizes including a Team Sky kids’ bike designed by FROG and signed by Team Sky, a ride with Team Sky at its Majorca training camp, a Dogma Pinarello Team Sky bike signed by Sir Dave Brailsford CBE and a Tour of California jersey signed by Bradley Wiggins.
Tables for the 2015 event are for 10 people and are available in Bronze, Silver or Gold class – the coveted Gold standard has the best view in the house and a cycling legend guaranteed at the table.
www.action.org.uk/champions-cyclesport
